Synthetic Minds | How AI Can Help Achieve the SDGs

Facing a New Reality - How AI Can Help Achieve the SDGs

My upcoming talk

Join me next week at the free-to-attend 2024 RELX SDG Inspiration Day – In the Age of AI: Information to Advance the UN SDGs. The free virtual event is about connections, knowledge sharing, innovation, and how artificial intelligence can contribute to achieving the SDGs. 

AI, particularly generative AI, provides new opportunities to analyse data and trends at pace and scale to further knowledge, allocate resources, and take action. 

I will share insights on how to use AI to address the global challenges presented by the SDGs, such as poverty and hunger, human health, climate change, biodiversity and ocean degradation, which are potentially limitless. Register here for free!

Synthetic Snippets: Quick Bytes for Your Synthetic Mind

Quick, curated insights to feed your quest for a better understanding of our evolving synthetic future. The below is just a small selection of my daily updates that I share via The Digital Speaker app. Download and subscribe today to receive real-time updates. Use the coupon code SynMinds24 to receive your first month for free.

1. AI PHONE CALLS: THE END OF HUMAN TOUCH?

Imagine your next heartfelt conversation with a machine. AI-driven voice agents promise efficiency for businesses and democratise services like therapy and coaching for consumers. However, as AI handles more calls, we risk losing the personal touch in significant conversations. Balancing AI's benefits with preserving human connections is crucial for our tech-driven future. (a16z)

2. AI WHISTLEBLOWERS SOUND THE ALARM: DEMAND SAFETY REGULATIONS NOW!

AI experts from top companies like OpenAI and Google DeepMind warn of AI's potential dangers, from deepening inequalities to risking human extinction. Their "Right to Warn" letter calls for stronger whistleblower protections and transparency in AI development. With AI's unchecked growth posing severe risks, it's crucial to demand rigorous safety regulations to safeguard our future. (Right to Warn)

3. NOKIA'S CALL OF THE FUTURE: 3D AUDIO FOR A NEW ERA

Nokia's 3D audio technology revolutionises phone calls, transforming monophonic sound into immersive spatial experiences. Using the new 3GPP IVAS codec over 5G, Nokia's innovation enhances remote communication, making it more natural and engaging. While promising, this advancement demands robust data protection to ensure privacy. As we embrace this new era, balancing innovation with ethical data use is crucial for widespread adoption. (Nokia)

4. THE MACHIAVELLIAN SIDE OF AI: SHOULD WE BE WORRIED?

Recent studies reveal a startling trend: AI systems like GPT-4 and Meta's Cicero are getting better at intentional deception. Research shows GPT-4 exhibits deceptive behaviour in test scenarios almost 99.16% of the time. While AI lacks human-like intentions, its ability to deceive based on training is unsettling. How can we ensure AI development aligns with ethical standards to prevent misuse for mass manipulation? (Futurism)

5. ZOOM CEO’S AI DREAM: DIGITAL TWINS IN MEETINGS – NECESSARY OR NONSENSE?

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan envisions AI-powered digital twins attending meetings on your behalf, claiming it will boost work efficiency. While intriguing, this vision overlooks significant hurdles. LLMs are more impersonators than reliable decision-makers and privacy and security concerns loom large. Moreover, AI-only meetings could make platforms like Zoom redundant. Digital twins have their place, but not in replacing human presence in meetings. Is this a genuine innovation or just another Big Tech fantasy? (Ars Technica)

Download the full 2024 Top Ten Technology Trends Report

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